Robitaille: Father Alphonse Robitaille omi

Alphonse Robitaille omi

Oblate priest. Ordained 03 June 1944. Died 1992. Police contacted 2010 by a man alleging childhood sex abuse at the age from age 8 to 10 by Father Robitaille. The abuse transpired one to two times per week for nearly two years at Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) Church in Ottawa. Police discovered that Father Robitaille died in 1992. In his statement to the police the man describes the location of Robitaille’s room on the second floor and the placement of antique furniture and a rocking chair. Details of the sexual abuse are recounted, including a failed attempt by Robitaille to sodomize the boy. The abuse stopped when the boy’s family moved and stopped attending Sacre Coeur.

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The folowing information is drawn from Canadian Catholic Church Directories (CCCD) of that date which I have on hand and the 1980 Ontario Catholic Directory (OCD80)

1993: not listed (CCCD)

Died 1992

1992, 1991: 305 Nelson St. = Assumption House (CCCD)

1985-86: 305 Nelson St. = Assumption House (CCCD)

1980: there is an. L.A. Robitaille at Sacre Couer and at Assumption House, an Oblate residence attached to the University of Ottawa. I think this is probably him but am not certain. (OCD80)

28 Responses to Robitaille: Father Alphonse Robitaille omi

I do not believe the allegation mentioned on Louis-Alphonse Robitaille (omi). Stories are made up on allegations of sexuial abuses made available to us through the media. Each an everyday we hear of sexual abuses from all sources of professional walk of life such as Lawyers, Doctors, clergy’s etc. etc. So sad to see the world at the state that it’s in today as to what the “World” should have been since the passage of Jesus amongs the people for 33 years on this earth. God is ALMIGHTY and His forgiveness is endless! There are true sexual abuses on childrens (sadly to say) but just because some people hear of these and start making false accusation Ex. Father Louis-Alphonse Robitaille a priest that died in 1992 and this man waited 8 years after to report sexual abuse on him to police in 2010 alleging childhood sex abuse at the age from age 8 to 10 by Father Robitaille. Please REMOVE this from your web site cause this allegation on Father Robitaille is simply not true. P.R.

P.R. : Not sure how you are so sure these allegations are false…perhaps you would like to share your information. If you do not want to or your reasons are based on your “thoughts”, then that is not sufficient to remove this. With the info the victim provided, it would appear that he has valid concerns and it may have taken this long for him to have the courage to come forward. Show us your proof that this priest is innocent!

When he went to police this man was seeking justice – he did not know that Father Robitaille had died. The fact that he did not go to police until 2010 is not at all unusual. It takes decades for those who have been abused to speak up.

I have personally spoken to the man who made these allegations and have seen a statement he gave to police.

I never knew or talked to Father Robitaille. I have however spoken to the man who alleges abuse at the hands of Father Robitaille. You on the other hand knew Father Robitaille but do not know and have never spoken to the man who made the allegations.

I’m sorry P.R., but the fact that you do not believe Father Robitaiile abused a young boy does not mean it didn’t happen. Many Catholics refuse to believe or even entertain the possibility that a priest they once personally admired and respected could have been a child molester. Many have been betrayed.

First I want to say I am sorry for the Man who was abused by Father Robitaille for the courage he as shown by coming forward and liberated himself of all those years of hurting by reporting to the police. As far as my first impression on what I wrote on Father Robitaille…no I don’t have any proof that he was a child molester. Today I’m 73 years old and a man of great belief and values and can’t figure why and how could a priest like Father Robitaille would have done such an atrocity to a young boy??? Back in the 50’s we didn’t believe that a priest could do such act on children. We belonged to Sacred Heart Parish went to mass every sundays and knew Father Robitaille. He was all that we expected from a priest…took care of us by preparing us for our first communion and confirmation. He was a friend of the familly came over every so often either for a coffee or even to play cards with my parents. Anyway take this as an apology towards the victim. Regard……P.R.

Dear PR, I have been following this site since learning of a Bishop who was arrested for possessing child pornography. He was my Bishop. He worked with my students, confirmed one of my own children. He was found guilty, went to prison, and is now defrocked. Sometimes I still can’t fully comprehend why he did what he did. Sylvia calls him a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” I was as shocked as you are today. But as time progresses and the victim makes clear all that was done to him, professionals will determine the truth. And ususally what has been mentioned is true…no matter how shocking or unbelievable this is to your ears. This abuse victim has been holding this shameful secret for many many years. The real shame was the hold that priest had on the victim. So it may have taken him all these years and the coming out of other abuse victims to reveal this terrible thing that happened to him for two years. But we believe it is necessary for victims to tell their story to begin healing, and once and for all to tell the priest….even if he is dead…..that he NO longer has hold of the victim. Even if the “hold” is deep in his mind. It’s a tough day in the Church, but it’s important that the Church get to the bottom of its abusive priests and rid them for good.

*P.R.; I can sense your disbelief in the allegations. It is hard to accept that someone you may have looked up to may have had an “alter-ego”. It is important to know that men in general rarely ever lie about being sexually abused. It takes a lot of courage for a man to even admit after all these years to being sexually abused. Admitting it is shaming, humbling, and extremely difficult to do. Let’s just all hope the real truth comes out. Mike

I am not surprised to see Father Robitaille’s name on this web site as I know that he sexually abused my late brother André in the early 1960s.

In fact, when allegations of sexual abuse by priests were coming out in the media in the mid 1990s, my Mother while watching this news story on TV, told me: “I remember one morning in the early 1960s, Father Robitaille came to our home and told me: Mrs. R, if little boys talk about me, I hope you will not believe them.” To that, my Mother replied: ” Of course, Father, I would not believe that…. “.

In 1998, my brother André, a few months before his sudden death at the age of 47, told my Mother, my sister and myself that he had been sexually abused by Father Robitaille when he was a young boy. He did not give us many details but did say that the occurrences happened in Father Robitaille’s room and that a therapist was helping him with his secret encouraging to tell his family. (All his life, André suffered and struggled with serious psychiatric illness). So when André told us, my Mother asked why he had never told… to which André shyly explained he did not know at that time how to tell anyone and besides, he feared going to hell if he did tell someone…

Shortly after telling us, André died suddenly and 3 weeks after his death, my Mother also died suddenly…

Recently, I reconnected with a long lost cousin and told him this story about André. I was very surprised by my cousin’s allegations that André must have invented this story because of his psychiatric past.

I am not surprised to see Father Robitaille’s name on this web site as I know that he sexually abused my late brother André in the early 1960s.

In fact, when allegations of sexual abuse by priests were coming out in the media in the mid 1990s, my Mother while watching this news story on TV, told me: “I remember one morning in the early 1960s, Father Robitaille came to our home and told me: ” Mrs. R, if little boys talk about me, I hope you will not believe them.” To that, my Mother replied: ” Of course, Father, I would not believe that…. “.

In 1998, my brother André, a few months before his sudden death at the age of 47, told my Mother, my sister and myself that he had been sexually abused by Father Robitaille when he was a young boy. He did not give us many details but did say that the occurrences happened in Father Robitaille’s room and that a therapist was helping him with his secret and encouraged him to tell his family. (All his life, André suffered and struggled with serious psychiatric illness). So when André told us, my Mother asked why he had never told… to which André shyly explained he did not know at that time how to tell anyone and besides, he feared going to hell if he did tell someone…

Shortly after telling us, André died suddenly and 3 weeks after his death, my Mother also died suddenly…

Recently, I reconnected with a long lost cousin and told him this story about André. I was very surprised by my cousin’s allegations that André must have invented this story because of his psychiatric past.

LRM,
It is very young to die at 47 and your brother’s revelation makes it that much more tragic. The allegation that André’s psychiatric past was the source of his revelation, I believe very strongly might be the opposite! The abuse was probably responsible for a large part of his psychiatric difficulties and I would place my money there! Not just a wild guess but many years of ”observation” and similar story(ies) close to my family.
Thanks for sharing and for denouncing. I’m sure André would be thanking you as well for testifying on his behalf.
jg

LRM;
I also thank you for sharing this story! It is all too familiar. Your mother’s grief at finally seeing the truth would be over-whelming, as was my own Mom.
An old acquaintance of mine died about 8 years ago at the age of 54, and he had suffered at the hands of MY abuser as well! You will see his story here on the site in the near future.
The damage caused by these criminal hypocrites is profound and lasts a lifetime, if not longer. Mike.

I am a woman of now, 77 years old. In 1957 I was part of a University of Ottawa 3-month guided tour of Europe. The “chaperones” were a Father St-Denis and this Father Robitaille. We crossed the Atlantic on a boat. On board, Father Robitaille constantly and relentlessly pursued me, followed me on deck all the time, lurked around the door of my state room, which I then kept locked, and when I was with other passengers recited romantic verses to me to my great embarrassment. He did not abuse me, but the tendencies were certainly obvious. I was surrounded with fellow travellers and had I been alone, the outcome might have been very different had he been given the chance.

Bravo to you for sharing your story. Perhaps Father Robitaille didn’t sexually assault you as per it’s meaning in the criminal code of 1957 when you were within the limits of Canadian waters; but he did abuse you generally speaking. As I was reading your rather unique account I kept thinking to myself how devious this Oblate was to stalk a young victim in international waters where she would practically be incapable of doing anything about it legally speaking; not to mention that the Oblates owned and operated OofU at the time… You had a remedy; but it involved a highly specialized field of law at the intersection of international treaties and transnational private torts. The kind of legal services only large corporations can afford…

Victims of abuse often blame themselves for the abuse they endured. Part of the self-blaming involves guilt about having done something to trigger the abuse. But one cannot consent to be prejudiced in Canada; and couldn’t either in 1957. It is suspected that clerical abuse of heterosexual women will be the focus of the next (greater) wave of clerical abuse scandals. In the parish where I currently reside this parish covering all of my small and isolated community, I’ve heard a good dozen women confirm to me that there was a priest who in the late 1950s and early 1960’s used to proposition married an unmarried women for sex and then offer to confess them for their sin to normalize his abuse. If there’s anything proportional about these numbers, clerical abuse of heterosexual women will be many times greater than clerical abuse of children and vulnerable persons ever could be.

I often thought to myself that the Church had excluded women from management positions because women being the natural gardians of children they would not have covered-up clerical abuse. But I now wonder if it was also because women in management positions in the Church would be able to do something about the abuse of women.

I am now 70 years old. I was an altar boy at Eglise Sacré Coeur from 1958 to 1961. I served mass and met Père Robitaille who befriended me and asked me to join him for candy in his room. He was an avid carpenter and had built plywood armoires on the right side of his room, past the window, where he kept his candy. His bed was located along the wall on the left side as you walked in. His personal hygiene was objectionable. His ‘soutane” was always dirty. He was unshaven with a heavy beard and smelled of nicotine. His hands were yellow from the smoke. He abused me a number of times and I have never forgotten. Anyone who does not believe me, please feel free to do so. I will convince you beyond a shadow.

OMG ! I never knew. I was an altar boy at that time too — Father Robitaille never did anything of the sort to me. I was particularly naive at the time — as most kids that age are wont to be, but I was not aware of anything going on with other altar boys. I am so, so sorry for your experience.

C. I think I remember you in my youth.I did not understand what was happening at the time nor was I capable of sharing the experience with anyone, especially my parents. I became increasingly withdrawn and sensitive. I believe it shaped my life for many years to come. If I am sharing this now, it is to make others aware of the hypocrisy and the abuse of ‘power’ that the Church had at the time. If anyone here would like to share your experience, it would help me and others move forward. I hope this man is paying a hefty price, wherever he may be.

I remember you very well. I had a similar experience in high school, although the priest in question didn’t quite get to second base. I was on his bed, in his cell, and he was right over me, in his undershirt. But because I was so innocent (read: stupid), I suspect he started feeling guilty, and he buttoned up his cassock. And that was the end of it. Luckily for me, my experience was nowhere as bad as yours, it didn’t become this ‘horcrux’ in my life, and my personal circumstances have allowed me to move on.

Unless Catholicism is a transnational charity scam (and I sincerely believe that it is) Father Robitaille was already dead in eternity when he abused you. And for having endured this crucifying ordeal Christ will have always been there right next to you. So if you are a Catholic don’t ask what God has done to Father Robitaille after his death; know what he will always have lovingly done for you and will have never done for Oblate Father Robitaille.

Unburden yourself from such a heavy weight as the dead can’t be prosecuted criminally in Canada. On a balance of probability which is a much lesser burden you could have a (civil) case againt the Oblates who are vicariously liable for the predation of their members; dead or alive.

I whish I could say it was my pleasure Pierre… But I don’t enjoy having to find words of comfort for victims of clerical abuse. It’s mind blowingly beyond language and it’s very tricky to communicate universally on the Internet. But, hey, ‘glad it helped.
It could happen that apologists for Father Robitaille and trolls just out to harm victims of clerical abuse generally could come into this thread and contradict you. Don’t let them get to you, eh?

Bonne chance!

Roman crucifixion was designed and perfected to slowly asphyxiate those who were condemned to it. It also delivered the message that Rome did not care. That it was willing to go so far.

Apologists ???? Bring them on ! More hypocrisy ? What a surprise !! On Friday, I had a lengthy conversation with an Oblate who tried to convince me that the only way through this pain is through Jesus and through forgiveness. And that I could not accomplish forgiveness and solace without Jesus. I wonder what Jesus would have said…’Turn the other cheek’ , which is similar to what Père Alphonse basically asked me to do (looking for humour here). So go ahead with all you’ve got and try to convince me that I am imagining this pain. Seriously, why would ANYONE my age (70) be making up such morbidity. I await.

Thank you Leona. I live with an unusual burden of anger but am faring well otherwise. Sorry to see you are also a victim. I suspect there are many more who have elected to stay silent. To those, I suggest that you step forward. We live in a time of support. I wish you well, Leona.

Pierre, you have a right to your anger. What was done to you was criminal. I posted to Facebook today, the obituary of the priest who abused me. He managed to die before his other (I suppose from a legal perspective I should say “alleged”) victims had a chance to come forward. He also died leaving many of his friends believing he had been railroaded by vindictive teenagers. His obit says he died peacefully, but as my sister deftly pointed out he must have had some pretty poor spiritual guidance if he was never asked to make amends.

Thank you to all those who have shared of their abuse by priests in the Catholic Church. You have given me courage to tell my story. I too was mentally and sexually abused by a priest who was an OMI. My abuse began when I was 10 years old and continued for 4 years when he was finally sent to a different parish. The priest who had sexually abused me is also dead and that does not less the pain. I have been suffering with the mental effects of the abuse for 37 years and it continues today.

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